Committee weighs tractor‑pull and music options, approves Mr. Ed’s midway contract

The Richland County Fair Committee spent a large portion of its meeting discussing entertainment for the upcoming fair, including a tractor pull, potential paid music acts and a midway contract that the committee approved.

Representatives of Southwest Pullers reviewed last year’s turnout and staffing needs and asked the committee to choose whether their tractor‑pull event should be scheduled Friday or Saturday. The committee discussed logistics, track prep and how class turnout affects payouts; staff indicated the full tractor‑pull package was listed at $8,500 for the event (up from $8,000 the previous year) and that some class payouts had increased while the insurance/promotion line decreased.

Staff also reported two music leads received at the fair convention: a Nashville booking agent offering a package that could include Chad Brock and Jared Turner for about $7,500, and an inquiry from Jake Gill and friends with pricing to be determined. Committee members asked staff to obtain full quotes and return with cost comparisons at the February meeting so the committee could finalize dates and staging needs.

On the midway contract, staff presented a multi‑year agreement with Mr. Ed’s Magical Midway that retains the county’s prior percentage arrangement but adds two notable changes: the contract specifies the county receives 25% of ride‑ticket and wristband sales (after sales tax), and the vendor added a fuel surcharge clause that would apply if the price of diesel exceeds $3 per gallon; the contract also includes a 10% insurance/liability deduction tied to wristband proceeds. A motion to sign the Mr. Ed’s contract was made, seconded and carried.

What’s next: staff will send the sound contractor contract (Sound on Wheels) to county counsel for review, obtain detailed quotes from music vendors and provide final cost/availability information at the next meeting so the committee can set dates and approve remaining contracts.